If you follow the news, you have no doubt heard about doctors using stem cells to treat patients with serious diseases. This practice is relatively new, and though it remains in its infancy, it is already helping people survive diseases that might have taken their lives only a decade ago.
Much of the coverage around stem cells focuses on the controversy around their use. But the emphasis on the controversy has taken away from coverage of the remarkable things that these cells can accomplish. Although their use in medical procedures is not universally accepted yet, their therapeutic value is beyond dispute. If you have not yet heard about what stem cells can do, or if you’re wondering whether stem cell therapy in Houston might be right for you, here is a quick overview of how these cells are used in a clinical setting.
Bone Marrow Transplants
Although there are a number of different stem cell therapy treatments currently in the research and trial stages, one treatment has moved beyond trials and become accepted in the mainstream. This procedure is called a bone marrow transplant, and it is used to treat bone marrow cancer. In some limited cases, it is also used to treat nonmalignant disorders that affect the blood
How it Works
In the case of a bone marrow transplant, cells are taken from a healthy individual and injected into the body of a person suffering from a disease. The transplanted cells help the diseased person’s body produce enough white blood cells – which fight off disease – to cure themselves.
Who Is Eligible
There are several requirements for receiving a bone marrow transplant. Most obviously, you must be suffering from a disease that can be treated with stem cell therapy. Secondly, you must have a compatible donor. Finding a compatible donor can be extremely difficult. Your body will only accept stem cells from a narrow range of compatible individuals. To address the difficulty of finding compatible donors, a nationwide registry of bone marrow donors has been formed. This allows people in need of bone marrow transplants to find a donor anywhere in the United States or Canada. Even so, not everyone finds a donor. But if you think that you might be helped by this treatment, it is still wise to consult a doctor, and see whether a donor can be found.
After the Transplant
A bone marrow transplant is not a silver bullet, and it certainly is not an immediate cure. Once the transplant is complete, it takes time for the new cells to kick in and begin fighting the disease. But although this treatment is not perfect, it does provide hope to individuals who otherwise would have little chance of surviving their diseases.
